Here’s a surreal childhood memory-
As a kid dad used to take me to Charlie Chaplin’s house in Switzerland. We were regular guests of the incredibly kind Oona Chaplin, who would treat us to a fancy dinner in her house by the lake, and then a movie. The house had a vast hallway
& she would have a screen set up at one end, bring the sofa through and have chairs placed at the other end and we would watch Charlie Chaplin movies. The original prints with music played on piano. Even as a kid I knew I was privy to something very unique. Something magical.
This is the house. Behind that row of windows on the ground level was a series of grand sitting rooms, and behind and parallel to that, running most of the length of the house, the grand hallway where i watched The Tramp, The Kid , The Great Dictator, and others.
Charlie Chaplin had recently passed away. I think my dad was trying to be a good neighbor and brighten Oona’s spirits. Bringing me along, a wide-eyed kid, might have been a clever bit of strategy on his part.
Anyway, i only bring this up as tonight’s debate reminded me of the responsibility of artists to communicate the important things others can’t seem to nail down. I hope we find our Chaplins making their Great Dictators.
We need voices that make more than noise.
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There are a terrifying percentage of people in the US who are just raw, inexplicable anger at being unable to verbalize that they hate America. WHY they hate it. And I think it’s because they see the unfairness. The lack of social brotherhood. The (cont)
lack of safety net. Families put out on the street for missing rent. Healthcare bankrupting working families. And they are in a state of constant tension with what they have been taught. “America is the greatest country in the history of human civilization.” They have (cont)
Been trained since childhood to deify the founding fathers. The flag. The troops protecting their “freedom.” They know they are supposed to be thankful. Grateful! But they aren’t. Not really. Not when they are one pay check away from oblivion. That’s why (cont)
I thought it would be nice to ask everyone to send in a picture of your absolutely most favorite tree.
Any reason you like.
I call it... #WorldsMostMagnificentTree
Look at this beaut from South Carolina!
This tree is called Major Oak and its in Sherwood Forrest. It’s thought to be around 1000 years old. I love the fact it’s supported by an army of struts & canes, the old wizened warrior it is.
To all the comic colorists out there... HOLY SHIT this is time consuming. All the love and respect. 😂❤️
Still going... terribly, horribly, painfully slow.
Don't hate me @StazJohnson! If its a disaster, I will either hang it b&w or get a professional to do it properly! 😂
Particularly love the "Hairy in Hamburg" title. Proper old school Commando comic! 😁
Very sad to hear about the passing of Kansai Yamamoto. My best wishes to his family & friends. I met him as a very young kid & remember him as an incredibly kind man. I also have an absolutely formative memory of him that I wish I had had a chance to thank
him for... on a visit to Japan, when I couldn’t have been more than 4 or 5, we went to have dinner at Kansai’s home. After dinner, his daughter, who couldn’t have been much older than me, 6 at most, asked her dad if she could take me to the toy store. Kansai agreed, and off
we went. Alone! On the subway! At 4 & 6. Now this was after dinner. It was DARK outside, and we were in a city. The toy store was amazing, and presumably used to kids coming in unaccompanied at night to play with the toys. So that’s what we did. Play with toys with